Posted by Joel LeMahieu on April 19, 1999 at 08:38:26:
In Reply to: Tunnel Mite: Help! posted by Dave on April 18, 1999 at 10:13:07:
: I have been looking everywhere for some good information on the tunnel mite, but I can't find any! I want to know if they can go over 60mph and how they handle chop.
My brothers and I helped my dad build the Tunnel Mite about 7 years ago. Building it was a blast, but running it is even better!! We have a 25 hp. Mercury on ours and have been clocked at about 45 mph. However, if you are familiar with props, this will make sense. We have the highest pitch prop that is readily available and with the engine we have, we shouldn't be exceeding 41 mph. This means we are running at too high of RPMs for our engine. SOOOO, if you are willing to spend some money and play with your prop, you could probably get more our of her. (The only drawback is the higher pitch you go, the slower it comes out of the hole and the more cavitation problems you have.) I believe the engine rating is not given in HP but in pounds (100 lbs. if I remember correctly.) I don't know, but I would guess that todays newer engines may be lighter and you may be able to up the HP a little. As far as chop, it can get a little hairy. We run ours mostly of Lake Michigan and we have to pick our days pretty carefully. I guess it all depends on if you have the guts or not. Personally, I want to live to see my 21 birthday and going 60 mph in this boat might be suicide. Anyway, good luck and keep this site posted on how you are doing. JML